Manually manipulated apparatus and method of peripherally securing a plastic cover to a rimmed open top container

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to manually manipulated apparatus for and the method associated therewith of securing and retaining a plug-type container cover in position in the open top of a rimmed container. Securing apparatus is adapted to locally and progressively press the U-shaped rim of the cover into locked and seated condition on the rim of the container while providing support to the outer rim of the container.

United States Patent [1 1 Heisler [451 Sept. 16, 1975 MANUALLY MANIPULATED APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PERIPHERALLY SECURING A PLASTIC COVER TO A RIMNIED OPEN TOP CONTAINER [76] Inventor: Raymond Heisler, 657 Dakota Tr1.,

Franklin Lakes, NJ. 07417 22 Filed: Dec. 13, 1974 [21 Appl. No.: 532,493

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 426,337, Dec. 19, 1973.

[52] U.S. Cl. 53/38; 53/319; 53/329 [51] Int. Cl. B65B 7/28 [58] Field of Search 53/334, 38, 42, 43, 287,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,704,405 3/1929 Peelle 53/334 4/1960 Swanson 53/334 2/1973 Davis.- 53/319 Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or FirmRalph R. Roberts [5 7 ABSTRACT The present invention pertains to manually manipulated apparatus for and the method associated therewith of securing and retaining a plug-type container cover in position in the opentop of a rimmed container. Securing apparatus is adapted to locally and progressively press the U-shaped rim of the cover into locked and seated condition on the rim of the container while providing support to the outer rim of the container 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU SEP 1 61975 SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEB SEP 6 I975 sum 2 of 2 MANUALLY MANIPULATED APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PERIPHERALLY SECURING A PLASTIC COVER TO A RIMNIED OPEN TOP CONTAINER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT This application is a divisional application of my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 426,337, filed Dec. 19, 1973 and entitled, Apparatus and Method'of Peripherally Securing a Plastic Cover to a Rimmed Open Top Container. Division was required in Examiners Action mailed Sept. 13th, 1974.

This patent also refers particularly to rimmed containers and covers as are shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,382 as issued on May 1st, 1973 based on application Ser. No. 122,303, filed Mar. 9th, 1971 and entitled, Plastic Pail with Integral Handle and Plug-Type Plastic Cover. Reference is also made to containers and covers as found in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,420 issued June 18th, 1974 based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 275,443 as filed on July 26th, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention With reference to the classificationlof art as estab lished in the U.S. Patent Office the present invention pertains to art as found in the general Class entitled, Package Making (Class 53) and the subclass thereunder entitled, separate closure applying rotary tool or die (subclass 334). Attention -is also directed toward the general Class entitled, Tools (Class 81) and the subclass thereunder entitled, special hand manipulated with additional receptacle engaging means (subclass 3.36).

2. Description of the Prior Art Plastic containers of the type commonly known as Tupperware and the many similar containers used to package products such as ice cream, margarine and the like are manufactured by the millions each year. In such packaging the container body is sufficiently rigid to permit the placing of the cover on the rim of the filled container and with force applying means mount this cover which is flexible on the container. As the packaged content is usually very viscous or semisolid, flexible snap-tight covers are satisfactory and the force for securing is quite low.

Where and when the container has its opening provided with a plurality of sealing ledges or ring-like surfaces and the mating plug-type cover has compatible sealing surfaces, a semirigid cover such as described in the cross references requires that the applying force be quite high. The applying apparatus commonly used with flexible, snap-tight covers if used with the covers and containers such as are shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,382 and my application Ser. No. 275,443 would likely damage the side walls of the container and/or result in an incomplete securing of the cover and/or a seal of the cover to the container. The present invention discloses a hand manipulated cover applying apparatus which employs engagement of the underside of the rim of the container with localized pressure on the cover rim to cause the cover to be pressed into sealed condition.

In the hand manipulated apparatus of this invention, to be hereinafter more fully described, there is provided means for engaging the cover rim and the container rim at a localized area and pressing the cover into position. The rim of the container is locally engaged and supported so as to prevent unwanted or undue stress on the side walls of the container. Rotary means is imparted to cause a pair of rollers to engage and push the cover into mounted position on the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention may be summarized at least in part with reference to its object.

It is an object of this invention to provide, and it does provide hand manipulated apparatus for securing a plug-type cover to an open top plastic container whereby a local engagement of the cover rim and the container rim is achieved, and by rotary movement of the hand apparatus the cover and container are pressed into sealed condition.

The manually operated apparatus includes an arm member which is rotatably carried on a pin mounted on a support disc or plate. The outer end of the arm carries a pair of rollers secured to and .spaced on the arm and as the rollers are peripherally advanced around the container rim and cover rim the cover is moved into the desired seated condition. I v

In addition to the above summary the following disclosure is detailed to insure adequacy and aid in understanding of the invention. This disclosure, however, is intended to cover each new inventive concept therein no matter how it may later-be disguised by variations in form or additions of further improvements. For this reason there has been chosen a specific embodiment of a manually manipulated apparatus for peripherally securing semirigid plastic covers to open top containers and showing a preferred means and method for performing the desired securing operation. This specific embodiment has been chosen for the purposes of illustration and description as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 represents a side view of a manually manipulated apparatus adapted for securing a semirigid plugtype cover to a plastic container, a portion of the apparatus being shown in section to better illustrate the preferred arrangement of components;

FIG. 2 represents a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, the view taken on the linej2-2 of FIG. I and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 represents an enlarged fragmentary view of the container, cover and manually manipulated apparatus with a pair of force applying rollers as carried in spaced array by the apparatus being brought into position to force an initial mounting condition;

FIG. 4 represents an enlarged fragmentary view similar to that of FIG. 3 but with the force applying rollers now in cover mounting condition, and

FIG. 5 represents the fragmentary view of FIGS. 3 and 4 but with the force applying rollers now manipulated for the process of removal.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. These names, however, are intended to be generic in their application. Corresponding reference characters refer to like members throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification disclose the details of the preferred construction for the purpose of explanation of the broader aspects of the invention, but it should be understood that structural details may be modified and that the invention may be incorporated in other structural forms than shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS OF FIGS. 1

THROUGH 5 Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 there is disclosed a manually operable cover securing apparatus whereby a plug-type cover is caused to be seated in the open top of a container. Both the cover and container are contemplated to be of semirigid plastic such as oriented polyethylene. As depicted, this preferred embodiment includes a support disc or rim which is connected by spoke members 11 to a hub 12. A ball bearing 14 is mounted in a bore 16 formed in this hub and rotatably supports the lower end of a shaft 18. For convenience, a knob 20 is secured to the top of shaft 18 so that the apparatus may be easily lifted and this shaft rotated and manipulated during all phases of the cover securing operation.

A short distance above the hub 12 there is secured to shaft 18 an arm 22 whose outer end is turned downwardly to provide a roller support portion 24. A lower support roller 26 is rotatably carried on a shoulder screw 28 threadedly mounted in a tapped hole in this support portion 24. At a determined distance above support roller 26 is a guide and pressure roller 30 rotatably carried on a shoulder screw 32 mounted in a tapped hole in portion 24. It is to be noted that pressure roller 30 has its inner end formed with a guide chamfer 34 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

USE AND OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS OF FIGS. 1 5

The weight of the cover securing apparatus is such that it is easily manipulated by the operator. For example, disc 10 which may be a solid member eliminating spokes l1, knob 20 and arm 22 may be made of a light metal such as aluminum or a magnesium alloy. Rollers 26 and 30 are preferably of steel either through hardened or with hardened outer surfaces. As seen in FIGS.

3, 4 and 5, a molded container has an outer rim 42 which is molded with a continuous lower edge 44. A cover 46 has a U-shaped outer rim 48 whose inner contour snugly engages mating portions formed on the container rim 42. A full explanation as to how such a seating of this cover rim on and to the container provides the desired sealing action is discussed and disclosed in detail in the reference US. Pat. No. 3,730,382 and application Ser. No. 275,443 now US. Pat. No. 3,817,420. The full mounting of the cover onto the container top requires an applied pressure which can best be achieved by using a progressively applied local pressure to the cover rim to cause the required stretching of the cover in the manner similar to the mounting of an automobile tire to its wheel rim.

To engage the container rim and cover rim and to apply the initial pressure at one rim point the arm 22 is tilted at an angle of about fifteen degrees from and above the horizontal. Roller 26 is brought from outside the container to a position under the outer rim 42 and arm 22 is then moved from its angle toward the horizontal. With this rotative motion the guide chamfer 34 on roller'30 first engages the upper outer edge of rim 48 and cams a local portion of cover rim 48 downwardly onto rim 42 until the seating condition of FIG. 4 is achieved.

When the apparatus has been swung to the horizontal condition as in FIG. 4, the larger diameter or roller 30 and the diameter of roller 26, which are spaced from each other a determined distance, transfer this spacing to the cover rim which is sufficient to cause the desired mounting of the cover rim 48 on the mating rim 42 of the container. Once swung into position the disc 10 rests on the midportion of cover 46 as in FIG. 1. Knob 20 is now turned to cause shaft 18 and connected arm 22 to be swung in a full circle around the axis of shaft 18. Roller 26 engages the lower edge 44 of the outer rim 42 of the container and roller 30 engages the flat upper surface of outer rim 48 of the cover and as the rollers are moved circumferentially around the cover and container the U-shaped portion of the cover rim 48 is pressed into secured condition on the container rim 42.

Referring next to FIG. 5, the removal of the apparatus from the container after the securing of the cover to the container again requires a slight lifting of disc 10 and a tilting of arm 22 so that the rollers 26 and 30 in a tilted condition may be slid from the container and cover rims after which the apparatus is lifted and moved to other operations.

The apparatus is then used as above-described to mount other covers on other containers. The knob 20 METHOD OF SECURING A PLASTIC COVER TO A CONTAINER The operation of the apparatus above-shown and described particularly exemplifies a method of securing a cover to a rimmed container. Where the U-shaped cover must be pressed nearly directly downwardly onto the rim of the container and where the cover must be stretched diagonally to achieve mounted condition, the method suggested by the manually operated apparatus employs the method steps which include providing a support means selectively movable to a position whereat it engages a local portion of the lower edge of the rim of the container so as to locally support the rim during a cover applying step; providing a pressure applying means selectively movable to a position whereat it locally engages a portion of a U-shaped outer rim of a cover; providing a means for aligning the support means and the pressure applying means for positioning and moving the pressure applying means to establish a determined space from the support means so that the cover portion engaged thereby is locally urged into mounted condition on the cover rim; providing means for simultaneously moving the support means and pressure applying means so as to engage and move circumferentially around the container rim and cover rim to sequentially press the U-shaped rim portion of the cover into seated condition on the rim of the container and providing means for removing the container with its mounted cover from the apparatus.

The method of mounting a cover to a container as accomplished by apparatus adapted for manual operation also includes the step of providing a freely turning first roller carried by a support arm so that the periphery of the roller engages the undersurface of the outwardly extending rim of the container whereby is provided a support means for the container rim. This method further includes providing a freely-turning second roller also carried by a support arm, the second roller supported so that in a pressure applying attitude its periphery locally engages the U-shaped rim portion of the cover and is so spaced from the first roller that a determined local seating pressure is exerted to the cover rim to cause the seating of the container rim to be achieved. The manual method further includes carrying first and second rollers on a common arm which is rotatably mounted on a plate-like member configured so as to be seated on the central portion of the cover during and while the arm is moved to execute a circumferential traverse of the container rim and cover rim by the spaced first and second rollers.

Terms such as left, right, up, down, bot tom, top, front, back, in, out clockwise", counterclockwise and the like are applicable to the embodiment shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely for the purposes of description and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the manual cover applying apparatus may be constructed or used.

While particular embodiments of the apparatus and methods associated with the cover mounting have been shown and described it is to be understood the invention is not limited thereto and protection is sought to the broadest extent the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for manually securing a downwardly turned U-shaped outer rim portion of a cover onto the outwardly extending mating rim of an open top container so as to mount the cover on the container rim, the manual apparatus including: (a) a support arm including a freely turning first roller carried by said arm and selectively movable to a position where it is adapted to engage the undersurface of the outwardly extending rim of the container and in association to locally support the rim during a cover applying sequence; (b) a freely-turning second roller also carried by a support arm, this second roller supported so that its periphery engages a U-shaped rim portion of the cover and in applying position is so spaced from the first roller that a determined local seating pressure is applied to the cover rim to cause a local seating of the container rim to be achieved; (c) means for moving said rollers to achieve simultaneous relative movement of the support arm and the container and cover so that the support and the applying rollers are moved circumferentially around the container rim and cover rim to sequentially press the U-shaped rim portion of the cover in a seated condition on the rim of the container, and (d) means for removing the manual applying apparatus from the container and its mounted cover.

2. Apparatus for manually mounting a cover to a container as in claim 1 in which the first and second rollers are carried on the end of a common arm rotatably carried by a support member.

3. Apparatus for manually mounting a cover to a container as in claim 2 in which the support member carrying the common arm is a plate-like member configured so as to be seated in position on the central portion of the cover during and while the arm is moved to execute a circumferential traverse of the container rim and cover rim to be achieved by the spaced first and second rollers.

4. Apparatus for manually mounting of a cover to a container as in claim 3 in which one of the rollers is formed with a conical end providing a cam means for initially pressing a first local portion of the cover to a mounted condition on the container.

5. The method for manually securing a downwardly turned U-shaped outer rim portion of a cover onto the outwardly extending mating rim of an open top container so as to mount said cover on the container rim, the method steps including: (a) providing a freely turning first roller carried by a support arm so that the periphery of the first rolller is adapted to engage the undersurface of the outwardly extending rim of the container to locally support the container rim during a cover applying step; (b) providing a second roller, freely-turning and also carried by a support arm, the second roller supported so that in a pressure applying attitude its periphery locally engages the U-shaped rim portion of the cover and is so spaced from the first roller that a determined local seating pressure is exerted to the cover rim to cause local seating of the container rim to be achieved; (c) providing means for simultaneous relative movement of the first and second rollers and the containercover so that the support and pressure applying rollers move circumferentially around the container rim and cover rim to sequentially press the U-shaped rim portion of the cover into seated condition on the rim of the container, and (d) providing means for removing the container with its mounted cover from the manual apparatus.

6. The method of manually mounting a cover onto a container as in claim 5 which includes mounting the first and second rollers on the end of a common arm rotatably carried by a support member.

7. The method of manually mounting a cover onto a container as in claim 6 which further includes carrying the first and second roller on a common arm which is rotatably mounted on a plate-like member configured so as to be seated and positioned on the central portion of the cover during and while the arm is moved to execute a circumferential traverse of the container rim and cover rim by the spaced first and second rollers.

8. The method of manually mounting a cover onto a container as in claim 7 which further includes forming one of the rollers with a conical end providing a cam means for initially pressing a first local portion of the cover to a mounted condition on the container. 

1. Apparatus for manually securing a downwardly turned U-shaped outer rim portion of a cover oNto the outwardly extending mating rim of an open top container so as to mount the cover on the container rim, the manual apparatus including: (a) a support arm including a freely turning first roller carried by said arm and selectively movable to a position where it is adapted to engage the undersurface of the outwardly extending rim of the container and in association to locally support the rim during a cover applying sequence; (b) a freely-turning second roller also carried by a support arm, this second roller supported so that its periphery engages a U-shaped rim portion of the cover and in applying position is so spaced from the first roller that a determined local seating pressure is applied to the cover rim to cause a local seating of the container rim to be achieved; (c) means for moving said rollers to achieve simultaneous relative movement of the support arm and the container and cover so that the support and the applying rollers are moved circumferentially around the container rim and cover rim to sequentially press the U-shaped rim portion of the cover in a seated condition on the rim of the container, and (d) means for removing the manual applying apparatus from the container and its mounted cover.
 2. Apparatus for manually mounting a cover to a container as in claim 1 in which the first and second rollers are carried on the end of a common arm rotatably carried by a support member.
 3. Apparatus for manually mounting a cover to a container as in claim 2 in which the support member carrying the common arm is a plate-like member configured so as to be seated in position on the central portion of the cover during and while the arm is moved to execute a circumferential traverse of the container rim and cover rim to be achieved by the spaced first and second rollers.
 4. Apparatus for manually mounting of a cover to a container as in claim 3 in which one of the rollers is formed with a conical end providing a cam means for initially pressing a first local portion of the cover to a mounted condition on the container.
 5. The method for manually securing a downwardly turned U-shaped outer rim portion of a cover onto the outwardly extending mating rim of an open top container so as to mount said cover on the container rim, the method steps including: (a) providing a freely turning first roller carried by a support arm so that the periphery of the first rolller is adapted to engage the undersurface of the outwardly extending rim of the container to locally support the container rim during a cover applying step; (b) providing a second roller, freely-turning and also carried by a support arm, the second roller supported so that in a pressure applying attitude its periphery locally engages the U-shaped rim portion of the cover and is so spaced from the first roller that a determined local seating pressure is exerted to the cover rim to cause local seating of the container rim to be achieved; (c) providing means for simultaneous relative movement of the first and second rollers and the container cover so that the support and pressure applying rollers move circumferentially around the container rim and cover rim to sequentially press the U-shaped rim portion of the cover into seated condition on the rim of the container, and (d) providing means for removing the container with its mounted cover from the manual apparatus.
 6. The method of manually mounting a cover onto a container as in claim 5 which includes mounting the first and second rollers on the end of a common arm rotatably carried by a support member.
 7. The method of manually mounting a cover onto a container as in claim 6 which further includes carrying the first and second roller on a common arm which is rotatably mounted on a plate-like member configured so as to be seated and positioned on the central portion of the cover during and while the arm is moved to execute a circumferential traverse of the container rim and cover rim by the spaced first and second rollers.
 8. The method of mAnually mounting a cover onto a container as in claim 7 which further includes forming one of the rollers with a conical end providing a cam means for initially pressing a first local portion of the cover to a mounted condition on the container. 